Last Updated on March 22, 2023 by Lisa Vargas
Some of my fondest memories as a kid was camping up in the Sierra Nevada’s with my family. I loved every minute of it. Getting out in the fresh air, getting to fish all day, sitting around the campfire at night making smores and getting to sleep in a tent. Everything was perfect, expect that there was one thing I absolutely hated and that was setting up camp when we first got there. Specifically, setting up my own tent. Back then in the 80s, they didn’t make the nice, easy to set up tents that they do now. Today they call them “pop up” tents. Man, camping would have been so much easier back then.
Even today, I just recently, in the past few years broke down and got my own easy to set up tent for camping. I think my ego got in the way a bit. I felt that I was cheating by not putting together a tent by sliding those poles through the small sockets and then having to take a hammer to drill in the spikes to the ground. It felt like such an accomplishment and a point of pride that I could set up my own tent the old fashioned way.
But like everything else in life, technology has changed the way man needs to set up tents. And honestly, I’m happy about it. It would have been a lot easier when I was a kid and I wouldn’t have complained so much.
With all of that said, if you are ready to take the leap from traditional tent set up to the new modern easy to set up tents, you’ve come to the right place.
Today, we will look at some of the pop up tents that are on the market and find out which ones stand up to the “easy” test.
So let’s dive right in!
Easy To Set Up Tents For One Person
TETON Sports Outfitter Quick Tent
Teton Sports makes a fantastic tent with this easy to set up one-man tent. You simply roll out the tent, snap in the poles, and then pull the drawstring. It literally gets set up in less than a minute. Just in case you don’t much about about Teton Sports, they are a privately held company that started out of Utah in 2005. they have a big showroom in Salt Lake City, so if you are ever out that way, feel free to drop in!
Teton Sports manufacturers all sorts of outdoor products such as backpacks, sleeping bags, camp cots, hammocks, and several other camping accessories. Below are some of the main features for this tent.
- Amazon Rating: 4.3 Stars
- Clip on rain fly (4 clips)
- Full mesh top so you can look up at the stars (nice!)
- Weight: 4 pounds
- You can use freestanding or put on top of matching cot (sold separately)
- Dimensions: 82″ x 39″ x 32″
- Water resistant bottom
- Material: Taffeta
Pros
- Sets up in less than a minute
- Very affordable
- Lightweight
- Lifetime warranty on all of their products
Cons
- Not waterproof
- May be a little tighter fit for taller people
- Rainfly does not adequately cover tent
ALPS Mountaineering Lynx 1-Person Tent
ALPS Mountaineering is a solid company that was founded in 1993 by an outdoor gear designer named Dennis Brune. His company is ran by his wife and their three kids and they love sharing their passion of the outdoors with the world. This little tent is fantastic for backpacking or a lightweight tent for your bug out bag. Can be used for warmer and cooler outdoor environments. It’s recommended that you buy the abrasion resistant floor saver that goes along with this tent so that you don’t rip the bottom of it.
- Amazon Rating: 4.6 out of 5 stars
- Packed Dimensions: 6″x17.5″
- Tent Dimensions: 32 L x 90 W x 36 H inches
- Weight: 4.2 lbs.
- Polyester fly with 1500mm coating helps protect against UV rays
- 2 roof vents for increased ventilation
- 2 “windows” on each side
- 2 inside pockets
Pros
- Klymit Air matress fits nicely inside
- Large #8 durable zippers
- Factory sealed seams for best protection
- Full coverage fly
- Durable 7000 Aluminum poles
Cons
- Does not come with fitted groundsheet (purchase separately)
- Might need to spray extra moisture repellent to coat tent as it is not waterproof
- May be a little heavier than desired for backpacking
Winterial Single Person Personal Bivy Tent
This Winterial tent is a wonderful little three-season tent that is high-quality, durable, lightweight and great for backpacking. The zipper is located on the very bottom and is attached with a velcro closure. It has great ventilation and really roomy for as small as it is. A great tent for the money.
- Open Dimensions: 38 x 28 x90 inches
- Packed Dimensions: 18″ x 4.5″ x 4″
- Weight: 2 lbs 9 ounces
- Comes with 3 bundles of paracord
- Large Rainfly included
- 1 pocket inside
- 2-hoop assembly with clips
Pros
- Sets up quickly and easily in less than 5 minutes
- Nice ventilation inside tent
- You can roll open and secure the mesh
- Bigger space than most 1-person tents
- Large zipper door for easy in and out
Cons
- Not a freestanding tent. Must be anchored to something
- Tent floor is not very durable. Need to pick up a 4’x8′ tarp separately
- Condensation tends to accumulate at night if you leave rainfly on, and it might get you wet!
- A little short, so can be harder to sit up
Easy To Set Up Tents For Two People
Coleman 2-Person Pop-Up Tent
I think a lot of people know Coleman as the go-to for camping gear of all sorts. I know that growing up that’s pretty much what my family used for just about everything from tents, to sleeping bags, to lanterns and cooking stoves. They’ve always produced great products at a reasonable prices. This Coleman 2-person pop up tent is not exception.
- Instant set up
- Floor seams are taped to keep the water out
- Open Dimensions: 7’6″ x 4’5″ with 2’11” center height
- Weight: 5.65 pounds
- Zipper cuffs to keep rain out
- Waterproof flooring
- Preassembled poles and multi-positioning rainfly
- 2 inside storage pockets
Pros
- Door has mesh liner
- Keeps out bugs and rain very well
- Less than 10 seconds to set up and take down
Cons
- Not recommend for backpacking due to weight
- Zipper known to snag at break sometimes
Flytop 3-4 Season 1-2-person Double Layer Backpacking Tent
This Flytop 4 season tent is a great consideration for all of your outdoor needs. Flytop is a company out of China who is known for their great customer service, quality, and affordability of products. You can use this for a winter camping tent, but take caution because it probably won’t withstand heavy snowfall in the higher altitudes.
- Ventilation window
- Dimensions: 59 x 83 in / 150 x 210cm (floor) 45.28 in / 115 cm (height)
- Weight: 4 pounds
- Comes with 2 aluminum poles
- Can be used freestanding (although directions say no)
- Inside mesh storage pockets
- Tent can be opened from both sides
- Reflective ropes so you don’t trip at night
Pros
- Good for winter camping and comes with snowskirt (yet stakes won’t hold skirt down)
- Built in light hook
- Great rain protection and leak-proof
- Tent is waterproof
- Tall ceiling height works well for tall people
Cons
- Tight for 2 people
- Does not come with groundsheet
- Tent doesn’t “breathe” very well
- Instructions not in English
Alvantor Camping Tent Outdoor Travelite Backpacking Light Weight Family Dome Tent
This Alvantor lightweight camping tent fits two people comfortably and is good for camping, on the beach, or any outdoor situation. This is one of the more affordable 2 person tents on the market, so just know that this tent won’t withstand rough winds, heavy snow storms or the like.
- Dimensions: Length- 79”, Width- 48”, Height- 40”
- Weight: 2.6 pounds
- 2 mesh sunroof window
- 1 internal storage pocket
- Fiberglass pole frame
- Material: polyethylene terephthalate
- 100% Polyethylene bathtub style floor
Pros
- Easy set up and take down
- Great ventilation
- Extremely lightweight
- Very affordable
Cons
- Tent is not waterproof
- Seams are not factory sealed so may allow some water leakage
- Original poles that come with tent aren’t very durable
3-Man Pop Up Tents
Night Cat Waterproof Camping Tent for 1 2 3 4 Person
The Night Cat camping tent is a waterproof in light rain, easy to set up tent due to its sleek hydraulic mechanism that makes it super simple to set up. With two doors, it makes it super ventilated. The rainfly can be used as a separate pavilion that you can take a nice siesta under during the day.
- Uses advanced Hydraulic pressure mechanism to set up tent
- Waterproof and windproof
- Waterproof PE tarp at the bottom
- Weight: 10 lbs.
- Dimensions: 33.5*6.7*6.7 inch
- Comes with ground tarp
Pros
- Instant set up in less than 1 minute
- Very roomy 2 -man tent
- Awesome rainfly design
- If anything happens within 6 months of purchase, you can get full refund
Cons
- Poles are a little flimsy
- Even though tent has hydraulic set up, still lots of pieces to set up
- Set up directions are vague
Marmot Crane Creek Backpacking and Camping Tent
This Marmot Crane Creek tent is a fantastic tent for the outdoors. You can’t go wrong with the well-known Marmot brand, as they have produced high-quality, durable, and reliable camping gear for several years. This 42 square foot, 3 person tent is waterproof, spacious, and well ventilated to provide optimum comfort. Note that Marmot calls it a 3 person tent, but it might be a little tight. It will depend on how much gear you have with you when you use this tent and how much space you prefer.
- Seam-taped polyester fly
- Fully waterproof, rainfly closes completely
- 2 D-shaped doors
- 2 overhead vestibules
- Floors are seam-taped to stop water from entering
- Inside pockets for storage
- Dimensions:
- Weight: Approximately 5.5 pounds
Pros
- Spacious for a 2-3 man tent
- Completely waterproof
- True freestanding tent
- Lightweight for its size
Cons
- Can be a little small for 3 people
- Buckle system only support the fly OR the footprint, not both.
- Footprint sold separately
Coleman Sundome Tent (3 person)
This Coleman Sundome easy to set up tent for three is a best seller on Amazon and is built with quality, durability and space in mind. What’s nice about this Sundome tent is that it comes in various different sizes. You simply need to pick the size you want on checkout. I wanted to include it in our three person tent section just because it rounds out this category with the best quality and an Amazon Choice product.
- Dimensions: 7ft L x 7ft W x 4’4″ H
- Weight: 3.76 pounds
- Durable fiberglass poles
- Large mesh window for ventilation
- Door mat included
- Rainfly included
- 2 storage pockets and lighting loops
- Polyethylene ground sheet
Pros
- Quick and easy to pitch
- Large sleep area
- Strength and stability
- Generous head-height
- 1 year limited warranty
Cons
- Ventilation window on the side do not have a closeable zipper flap to cover them so you must use the rainfly to keep out water
- Not good for windy, or freezing temperatures
4 Person + Easy To Set Up Camping Tents
At this point, when you get into these bigger tents that sleep four people and above, it really depends on what your comfortability standards are. Fore example, I have a Coleman six-man tent, but I’m usually the only one who sleeps in it when I go camping because my queen-sized Coleman air mattress takes up half of the room and then my clothes and little camping chair go next to it. It’s like my own little house.
But if you are a family of four, with two small kids, a three man tent might work just fine. I know a lot of my friends that are couples with no kids like the 4-6 man tent size for the same reason I like them – they have plenty of room!
HuiLingYang Outdoor Instant 4-Person Pop Up Dome Tent
If you’ve never experienced a HuiLingYang tent, you should seriously try them out. They have tons of great reviews on Amazon and people have nothing but good things to say about them. Even though they are out of China, they produce some great tents that pass the test of durability, quality build, and keeping the whether elements at bay. This four-person tent is an automatic pop up tent that is super simple to set up.
- Dimensions: 114.17 x 78.74 x 51.18 in
- Weight:
- Mesh windows open on both left and right sides
- Double doors to optimum ventilation
- Water resistant PU coated polyester
- Loops for hanging lights inside tent
Pros
- Sets up in less than 10 seconds
- 1 year warranty on non man-made issues
- High-quality floor seals to keep out ground water
Cons
- Not good for heavy rains or backpacking
- Not a truly freestanding tent. Need to use stakes
- Not as waterproof as it claims to be
- Zippers for windows are on the outside of the tent
Gazelle 30400 T4 Pop-Up Portable Camping Hub Overlanding Tent
The Gazelle 30400 T4 tent comes fully assembled and is hassle free to set up and take down. You simply pop out the wall hubs around all sides, pop up the roof panel, then ad the rainfly and you’re all set. This four-person tent is spacious and roomy and provides you with the high-quality, sturdy, and rugged construction that will serve you well in any outdoor situation.
- Floor Space: 61 FT² Height: 78″
- Weight: 30 lbs.
- D-doors with bug netting
- Stakes and guy lines included
- Removable floor for easy cleaning
- 50+ UV rated material
- Rainfly has integrated poles for easy install
- YKK zippers used
Pros
- No poles or extra pieces to put together
- Easy (90 second claimed by Gazelle) set up
- Good airflow and ventilation due to having 6 mesh windows
- Strong zippers so that they won’t break
Cons
- A little heavy for its size
- Not very good with heavy rains
- Not good for extreme cold as the ceiling is made of mesh.
- Gap between mesh ceiling and rainfly is a little too much, which allows rain and colder elements to get through easier
CORE 9 Person Instant Cabin Tent - 14' x 9'
Core Equipment company is based out of Overland Park, KS and strives to provide the most innovative technology to their users for comfort, ease of set up, and extreme quality. This Core 9 Person Instant Cabin tent is wonderful for families or just for a relaxing place to get out of the sun.
- Dimensions: 14′ L x 9′ W (center height 78″)
- Weight: 27.6 pounds
- Can fit 2 queen-sized air mattresses
- Core waterblock technology to keep rain out
- Electricity outlet
- Room divider and storage pockets
- Mesh ceiling with rainfly to cover
Pros
- Easy to fold out tent arms for set up
- Water resistant
- Guy lines are reflective to help see in the dark
- Tall center height so you can easily stand up
- Very wide opening
Cons
- May be difficult to set up with one person
Coleman Elite Sundome 6 Person Tent with LED Light System
This Coleman Sundome six person tent is tremendous due to Coleman’s WeatherTec system. All of these tents are coated with polyester material and then combined with anti-wicking thread, webbing, and zippers that are designed to keep out moisture. This tent also comes with welded waterproof flooring the is sure to keep any rain out during a storm.
- Has an e-port for power
- Colemen exclusive WeatherTec system
- Dimentions: 12 x 10 feet with 6-foot center height
- Weight: 20 lbs.
- Poles: 11mm fiberglass
- Polyester taffeta 75D flysheet
- Room for 2 queen air beds
- Storage pockets
- Ground vent to help with ventilation
Pros
- Comes with 1-year guarantee
- Factory sealed seams to stop water leakage
- Will withstand 35 mph winds
- Instructs you how to get repair parts for your tent
Cons
- If you are setting up by yourself, can take up to 10 minutes
- Stakes can be a little weak. May have to buy some better stakes
Coleman Cabin Tent with Instant Setup
This Coleman Cabin Tent can sleep comfortably up to six people and is a great value for what you get. Everything is already assembled for you and you don’t have to put any poles together. You simply use the click-locks to snap everything in place quickly and easily.
- Dimensions: 10 x 9 feet with 6 foot center height
- Weight: 24.4 pounds
- Material: Taffeta 150D & Polyester Mesh
- 150D/150D Polyester/taped seams
- 2 inside storage pockets
- Dark room technology so you can sleep sound when the sun comes up
Pros
- Nice head room
- Durable floor
- Great ventalation
- Good value
Cons
- Not very wind and weather ristent
- Not as water resistant
- Stakes are not high-quality
- Not as big as other 6 man tents
Conclusion
My mission for this post was to help you determine what the best tent might be for you and your family. There are so many different tents out there on the market that making a decision that is best for you and your family can be tricky sometimes. I tried to narrow it down to some of the best on Amazon and the ones that get the highestreviews. No doubt you will read the reviews yourself, but this list is desinged to be a good place to start.